November 11, 1969: For anyone who thinks St. Anthony's Dining Room is a depressing place, I present to you the turkey high jinks of Father Alfred Boeddeker. He had two turkeys -- the second was curiously absent from the later photos. I'm guessing this kid, now in his 50s, is a vegan ...

Image 1 of 9 - Thanksgiving 2012

November 11, 1969: For anyone who thinks St. Anthony's Dining Room is a depressing place, I present to you the turkey high jinks of Father Alfred Boeddeker. He had two turkeys -- the second was curiously absent from the later photos. I'm guessing this kid, now in his 50s, is a vegan ...

November 11, 1969: For anyone who thinks St. Anthony's Dining Room is...a depressing place, I present to you the turkey high jinks of Father...Alfred Boeddeker. He had two turkeys -- the second was curiously...absent from the later photos. I'm guessing this kid, now in his 50s,...is a vegan ...

Image 2 of 9|Thanksgiving 2012

Chronicle file

Nov. 20, 1969: Lt. Commander Lew Meyer delivers Salvation Army turkeys at San Francisco International Airport. Whenever I see a helipcopter on Thanksgiving, I can't get the "WKRP in Cincinnati" theme out of my head.

Image 2 of 9 - Thanksgiving 2012

Nov. 20, 1969: Lt. Commander Lew Meyer delivers Salvation Army turkeys at San Francisco International Airport. Whenever I see a helipcopter on Thanksgiving, I can't get the "WKRP in Cincinnati" theme out of my head.

Nov. 20, 1969: Lt. Commander Lew Meyer delivers Salvation Army turkeys...at San Francisco International Airport. Whenever I see a helipcopter...on Thanksgiving, I can't get the "WKRP in Cincinnati" theme out of my...head.

Image 3 of 9|Thanksgiving 2012

Gary Fong / The Chronicle

Nov. 24, 1978: This was in a photo envelope titled "Thanksgiving Blues Around S.F." Strangers are ordering food at a diner counter. This woman has a lot on her mind, but the children look healthy. If you can get yourself out the door in San Francisco, then you're not alone on Thanksgiving.

Image 3 of 9 - Thanksgiving 2012

Nov. 24, 1978: This was in a photo envelope titled "Thanksgiving Blues Around S.F." Strangers are ordering food at a diner counter. This woman has a lot on her mind, but the children look healthy. If you can get yourself out the door in San Francisco, then you're not alone on Thanksgiving.

Nov. 24, 1978: This was in a photo envelope titled "Thanksgiving Blues...Around S.F." Strangers are ordering food at a diner counter. This...woman has a lot on her mind, but the children look healthy. If you can...get yourself out the door in San Francisco, then you're not alone on...Thanksgiving.

Image 4 of 9|Thanksgiving 2012

UPI photo

Nov. 25, 1958: I know this image is going to rile PETA, but I have friends who would consider it a betrayal if I didn't post the photo. 1950s women in short shorts brandishing a weapon = hot. If it makes a difference, that axe looks like a cardboard prop.

Image 4 of 9 - Thanksgiving 2012

Nov. 25, 1958: I know this image is going to rile PETA, but I have friends who would consider it a betrayal if I didn't post the photo. 1950s women in short shorts brandishing a weapon = hot. If it makes a difference, that axe looks like a cardboard prop.

Nov. 25, 1958: I know this image is going to rile PETA, but I have...friends who would consider it a betrayal if I didn't post the photo....1950s women in short shorts brandishing a weapon = hot. If it makes a...difference, that axe looks like a cardboard prop.

Image 5 of 9|Thanksgiving 2012

Orie Damewood / Special to the Chronicle

Nov. 24, 1932: Felix the Cat looks a little stoned in just the sixth Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. He's tethered to three very creepy looking clowns. Even though it's the 1930s, I still half-expect to see a Bart Simpson float in the background.

Image 5 of 9 - Thanksgiving 2012

Nov. 24, 1932: Felix the Cat looks a little stoned in just the sixth Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. He's tethered to three very creepy looking clowns. Even though it's the 1930s, I still half-expect to see a Bart Simpson float in the background.

Nov. 24, 1932: Felix the Cat looks a little stoned in just the sixth...Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. He's tethered to three very creepy...looking clowns. Even though it's the 1930s, I still half-expect to see...a Bart Simpson float in the background.

Image 6 of 9|Thanksgiving 2012

Associated Press

Nov. 25, 1965: I love this photo for many reasons, but mostly because of the turkey's expression. It's the same look Abe Vigoda had in "The Godfather." "Can you get me off the hook, Tom? For old time's sake ..."

Image 6 of 9 - Thanksgiving 2012

Nov. 25, 1965: I love this photo for many reasons, but mostly because of the turkey's expression. It's the same look Abe Vigoda had in "The Godfather." "Can you get me off the hook, Tom? For old time's sake ..."

Nov. 25, 1965: I love this photo for many reasons, but mostly because...of the turkey's expression. It's the same look Abe Vigoda had in "The...Godfather." "Can you get me off the hook, Tom? For old time's sake ..."

Image 7 of 9|Thanksgiving 2012

Chronicle file

Nov. 15, 1989: This is how i remember Thanksgiving in the 1980s: Lots of turtlenecks and parsley. I chose this mostly because of the kid's tongue-rolling stare at the turkey -- it's the exact same look Jabba the Hutt gave Princess Leia in her slave girl outfit.

Image 7 of 9 - Thanksgiving 2012

Nov. 15, 1989: This is how i remember Thanksgiving in the 1980s: Lots of turtlenecks and parsley. I chose this mostly because of the kid's tongue-rolling stare at the turkey -- it's the exact same look Jabba the Hutt gave Princess Leia in her slave girl outfit.

Nov. 15, 1989: This is how i remember Thanksgiving in the 1980s: Lots...of turtlenecks and parsley. I chose this mostly because of the kid's...tongue-rolling stare at the turkey -- it's the exact same look Jabba...the Hutt gave Princess Leia in her slave girl outfit.

Image 8 of 9|Thanksgiving 2012

The Chronicle

Thanksgiving at the Salvation Army Harbor Light Center on Nov. 25, 1971.

Image 8 of 9 - Thanksgiving 2012

Thanksgiving at the Salvation Army Harbor Light Center on Nov. 25, 1971.

Thanksgiving at the Salvation Army Harbor Light Center on Nov. 25,...1971.

Instead of a regular Let’s Go to the Morgue! entry this Thursday, we’ll continue the tradition of picking some favorite Thanksgiving photos from the Chronicle archives.

Along with carry-overs from previous Thanksgivings, each year I head down to the Chronicle photo morgue on Thanksgiving eve and find two or three new photos. Most of these images are local, but there’s no real criteria. Whatever feels the most Thanksgiving-y made the cut.

Thanks to everyone who has been reading this blog and my work in the Chronicle over the past year. Fifteen years ago I was working in Los Angeles, writing stories about O.J. Simpson, Robert Downey Jr.’s drug problems and various celebrity divorces. It’s much more fulfilling to celebrate the great things about the place I grew up with a group of commenters and other readers who love the Bay Area as much as I do.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

PETER HARTLAUB is the pop culture critic at the San Francisco Chronicle and founder/editor of The Big Event. He takes requests. Contact him at phartlaub@sfchronicle.com. Follow him on Twitter @peterhartlaub. Follow The Big Event on Facebook.